Unfortunately this one was a DNF for me. First of all I had no idea it was an interconnected series. It took me sometime to figure out the characters and thier relationships. Then I just couldn't understand why Duncan and Temperance couldn't be together. It didn't make much sense. I love angsty romances but this one was not for me or maybe second chances are not for me.

This review breaks my heart as I absolutely loved Jen Devon’s debut. It’s shelved as one of my favorite contemporarys ever. In that book, I was obsessed with the characterization of Duncan, who was hilarious, sexy, and charming.

In this book the premise of Duncan’s character fell apart. I felt like his character did a complete 180 from the bits we saw of him in the first book. I can grapple with a charmingly humorous character having depths to him (which is what it should be!) but I felt the outward humor was gone and he was just this defeated character trying to make something of life and wanting his love to ‘see’ him. I was unable to connect those two characters. Maybe if I hadn’t gotten a glimpse of him in the first book, he would’ve been more palatable.

I can see Duncan wanting to be deserving of Temperance and his issues with feeling unappreciated and not the smartest, but it wasn’t given enough gravitas and didn’t, again, connect with my initial impression of him from the last book. Temperance read more or less the same but also defeated from the first book.

Second chance romances are my favorite. However, structurally, this book had a lack of momentum. We’d get interactions between Duncan and Temperance here and there before 1. getting long bits of backstory or 2. the sheer number of the Brady family and side-characters coming into play. I wanna say for the first third they don’t even spend too much time together on page.

Romance: I don’t understand their hang ups or why Temperance couldn’t be with Duncan. It wasn’t even a miscommunication trope, it was something so insidious and overly complicated and vague that I didn’t get why they were apart. I guess the bones of the misbelief is there but the dots wasn’t connected enough to package it well to the reader. Like I didn’t get how her background and family life connected to her not being with Duncan. Even after I finished the book, I still don’t get what was their character conflict. The stakes weren’t established and it made the book a slog to get through.

Pacing: At 82%, they still weren’t together as a couple so as the reader I was unable to buy-in to their HEA. The pacing was incredibly slow, and created a stop and go effect which was really frustrating, and thus took me almost two months to finish. Their entire connections feels unearned and unjustified. I think they had their reckoning around 87% and were officially together and by then it was too late for me to believe into their HEA.

That being said the reason I stuck around was because Jen Devon is amazing way in her writing craft and her words were a delight to read.

1.5 star

I really liked Bend Toward the Sun and this was a solid follow-up. I really enjoy how in-depth Jen Devon goes into the vineyard. It makes for a really beautiful setting. I liked Duncan a lot in the first book so I was glad when I saw that this book would be about him and Temperance. I will definitely read the third book whenever she writes one about Mal and Frankie.

Second-chance romances can be hard to pull off sometimes. My biggest complaint about this book is that I couldn't understand why it took them 14 years to get back together. The reasons didn't feel justifiable, especially when they were still seeing each other and hooking up over the years. I thought the things that kept them apart in the first place would be a much bigger deal than they ended up being.

Every once and awhile, you read a book that leaves you confused on your feelings about it…Right Where We Left Us is one of those books for me.

Although slow at first, I quickly became invested in Temperance and Duncan’s story, and I felt the simmering chemistry between the characters on each page I read. I’m also a sucker for a supportive family as background characters, and this story had that in plenty! There were a lot of interactions with these support characters that were heartfelt and gave more personality to Temperance and Duncan, which I loved.

There was plenty that didn’t sit right with me too. There were times the writing was way too redundant or over the top. Temperance and Duncan fight their feelings, but there’s really no good reason why they do so, and because of that there is no real reason why they stop...that turning point in their relationship was anticlimactic. Also, I wish there was a little more description of the past across all characters. Where is Charlie’s mom? What happened to Malcolm? Why did Temperance and Duncan keep their first relationship such a secret? I personally find holes in stories like this annoying, like I’m missing something I shouldn’t be. Lastly, and this one is a bit silly, but why can’t authors give their characters common names?

Back to the confusing part, I did overall enjoy this book, even with the challenges listed above. Once I got over the slow start, I had a hard time putting it down. Were there things that I wish I could have gotten from the story that I didn’t? Sure. Am I sorry I took time to read this book? Definitely not. Because of that, I give this book 3.5 stars. rounding up to 4.

Contained some of my favorite tropes- second-chance romance, found family… . Overall, not my favorite second chance book.

I really wanted to give this book a better rating because I was really happy with how the book ended, but I had to admit to myself that there were moments where I struggled to keep going. I guess maybe I had a hard time buying into their back story and what kept them apart for so long. What I did like was the angst and chemistry between Duncan and Temperance, and I had to know how their story would end, which is what really kept me going.

Overall, I liked the story. I just didn't get hooked and fall in love with the characters.

I highly recommend reading Devon's first book, Bend Toward the Sun, before reading this book, as it's the second in a series. I liked all the characters but had a hard time remembering all of them, and it had been a long time since I read the first book. That said, I'd give it 4 stars as a sequel, but 3 stars if you don't read the first book, as it's a bit hard to remember all the characters.

There was so much here I liked, and more I wanted to like… but there was also so much that felt like it dragged on unnecessarily. Loved the characters, but they got too confusing at times. Also, I needed more history of MCs to understand their actual conflict. Contained some of my favorite tropes- second-chance romance, found family… and the end was fun- but overall it still fell a little flat for me.
I received this novel as an ARC from NetGalley and St Martin’s Press

Here’s the long and short of it: I’ll read anything Jen Devon writes, with great joy, and my only complaint is that I wish I could spend more time with the Brady family! I really hoping for Frankie and Mal next?! Right Where We Left Us leads us back to Vesper Valley, where we fell in love with Rowan and Harry in Bend Toward the Sun. This novel overflows with the same achingly gorgeous writing I loved in Bend Toward the Sun. This time, we’re here for a second chance romance that has been decades in the making. Temperance and Duncan were each other’s first love, and neither moved on. The way Jen writes their years of knowing each other and longing is completely swoon worthy. Both MCs have a hurt comfort vibe, and the spicy scenes are sweltering. Don’t miss this one!

Holy moly the angst! This is one that had my blood sizzling with it- hairs prickling with the urge to have their happy ever after.

I love the setting and the detail of the writing. So many fun things to immerse the reader in the story in a way that is unique.

A great sequel to give what people loved about the first the same expectation (but also so much more!)

Jen Devon is such a talented writer. Her prose reminds me of Kate Clayborn’s, very lyrical while never straying from the commercial, entertaining romance story. Duncan and Temperance charmed me just as much as Rowan and Harry, and I think every fan of second chance romances and found families will devour RIGHT WHERE WE LEFT US!

Great book, kept me wanting to read more. A great second chance book! It goes into great detail about the character's lives, so you get more than just the in moment. I absolutely loved this book and will most definitely look for more by this author!

I am a lover of romance novels, and “Right Where We Left Us” was everything I love in a romance. There were big, strong emotions. There was laughter and there were tears. There was beauty and pain and trust and bravery. This book was incredible.

The plot focuses on Duncan and Temperance making their way back to each other despite insecurities and life getting in the way. It focuses on their internal turmoil and angst. They’ve got years of distance and longing to get through. If you are a fan of second-chance romance, this is your book! I recommend this book if you like strong characters, a loving family plus found family, and playful banter. If you like spice, you’ll get a taste of that in this book as well.

Jen Devon’s overall writing style was amazing. This novel was so cozy. It takes place on a family’s land where they run a family business and are making preparations to open a vineyard. Devon’s descriptions of the land were incredible. I felt like I was there too, in the summer air, surrounded by nature. Her novel was made even better because the characters were likable. They were likable because they were relatable. I was able to understand the insecurities they battled with and the dreams that motivated them. Connecting to the characters makes a novel all that more enjoyable.

Overall, I love books that teach me something but also make me feel like I am a part of the story. This novel does the trick. It made me both laugh and cry. It made me want to love like the characters love. Lovers of romance novels will enjoy this! Five stars, hands down!

Second chance romance with all the feels. The story took me through the range of emotions and in rooting for the MCs to figure it out! At times the vocab was a bit academic, but it probably says more about my preference for easy reads than anything else. Good beach read!

I’m just gonna say it. I’m a Jen Devon Stan. I adore her writing style, the world she created, and the characters that live within it.

I read her debut Bend toward the sun when it first came out and fell in love with Harry and Rowan. Erin Mallon narrated the audiobook and that bumped it further. It was a top ten of the year for me. And the little Easter egg of what’s to come of Tj and Duncan left me more than a little excited for how their love story would unfold.

And Devon did not disappoint. Tj and Duncans story is complex and spicy. There’s longing and tension and long unresolved issues. And as a romance reader what more could you want?!? Jen Devon masterfully sews the past and present to create the now. TJ and Duncan do lovers to enemies to lovers so well.

And if that’s any indication, Frankie and Malcom will be just as good!

I ❤️ this book. Jen Devon’s Right where we left us knocked it out of the park!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Temperance Jean Madigan and Duncan Brady have never gotten it right. After one radiant, secret summer together when they were eighteen, they’ve been on-again off-again ever since. Now, despite red-hot chemistry and TJ’s closeness with Duncan’s family, they’re virtually strangers, only capable of adversarial banter, awkward small talk―and the occasional messy hookup.

When a wedding at the Brady’s vineyard lands TJ there for the summer, their mutual avoidance strategies prove impossible. The last thing TJ wants is to be under those angsty, heated glances Duncan thinks he hides. And for Duncan, having fiery TJ constantly close is the ultimate distraction that he absolutely can’t afford. When forced proximity begins to chip away at their armor, buried tensions resurface, old wounds urge confrontation, and once-in-a-lifetime love demands one last chance to finally get it right.

First off, I didn't know this was the second book in a series when I was granted an advance copy of this book. This book doesn't really give you much of the backstory of the characters in the beginning and so I was really lost with so many names (this is a very big family with lots of interconnected additional people). The use of shortened names such as Mal for Malcom started to also confuse me because... why? I didn't understand for a VERY long time what the issue was between TJ and Duncan. I think the author purposely left it vague to make you want to turn the pages to find out or the first book explained more of their dynamic. If it's in the first book, then this book is not a stand-alone book at all. If that's the case, I think it should list somewhere that this is part of a series. TJ and Maren's parents are the antagonist in this story and they don't redeem themselves ever. I didn't buy the connection because these characters spend so much time apart and we get lots of Frankie and Malcom interaction to make me wonder who's story was I supposed to connect to. Over all, it was just okay.

This book was just really hard for me to get through. Right off the bat the flowery third person writing made it impossible for me to connect to the characters and the story. I’m not always the biggest fan of third person in romance for this exact reason—it oftentimes takes away from the connection that we’re supposed to have with the main characters and their relationship. So right away I knew I wasn’t going to vibe with this story. Overall I think the plot was a little lacking in a lot of ways, I would’ve liked to see more solid character development and higher stakes between these two main characters.

I’m giving it two stars because at the very least, though I didn’t vibe with it in the romance setting, the descriptions were very nice and creative.

Jen Devon is cementing herself into a low plot high feels character driven book queen!! I could not tell you what even happened plot wise in this book but seeing Temperance and Duncan grow was everything!! 

They both have pressures from their families regarding their careers and they don't know that the other is dealing with the same thing 
I don't like second chance romance and a lesser writer could not have pulled this book off (for me at least). 

I was very curious about Temperance and Duncan's story from what we saw in Bend Toward the Sun and ultimately what did not work for me in this book was the second chance elements. I never like the feeling of any plot being dragged out and while I understood that Temperance and Duncan had to work through some things I did not feel like it needed to take as long as it did. 
However I did enjoy my time reading this book. Jen Devon's writing is gorgeous. I highlighted so many quotes and literal pages of my ARC copy and wish I could share alllll of them. 

I also am obsessed with the Brady family and loved that we saw so much of Rowan and Harry. Harry has turned into the ultimate wife guy (will say I thought it was a bit strange that we did not see a convo about this being his second marriage either in the last book or this one, but it was not his book so it's fine). I loved the kids and the Brady parents. I always love when a character who has a not great family falls in love with someone who has a loving family. And Temperance's situation is interesting since she fell in love with the family before she fell in love with Duncan. 

As a massive Rowan McKinnon fan -- I loved seeing how the Brady family has accepted her and how much they love her. This book is probably meant to stand alone, but I really think you should read the first one before jumping into this one. Seeing Harry and Rowan's HEA, after they fought so hard for it, was so lovely. 

I am so hyped for Mal and Frankie's book like...

I also just love a meaningful tattoo in a book and Duncan has lots. 

I will say I don't really like this cover. It's too cutesy for me. The purple and the vines are nice, but as a whole it does not convey the tone of the story. 

Overall this book only worked for me because Jen Devon wrote it and that being said a lot of it bugged me and didn't work. I was really relying on the characters and the writing to get me through this one because by the end I was getting a little tired of everything.

This is such a great second chance romance! There was so much angst and tension and the entire book was an emotional rollercoaster, but in the best way possible. The characters were written well and had so much depth. I was really rooting for them, and I felt they had great chemistry. It's an emotionally heavy book, but with the right amount of romance, funny moments and some spice. I loved the chronic illness representation as well, because reading about a character who is like you is so important. I love the Brady family so much and I cannot wait for the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jen Devon and St. Martin's Griffin for the eARC of this book!

Of all the unpleasant things one might have to do, writing a negative review of a highly anticipated book probably doesn't rank that high. Nevertheless, here I am, and this is going to SUCK because I loved this author's debut so much and a second chance romance had so much angst potential. But I think this might be...not good? I struggled to finish. The pacing is terrible and the overall structure of the story is confusing. For much of the time I felt like I was reading a series of vaguely related vignettes and being told they showed the development of the romance. I got very little sense of the characters. I kept feeling like I was missing something, but what I was missing was an actual plot and character development. Zero emotional payoff. UGH, I feel awful saying that, but an ARC deserves my honest review. Plus if unnecessary reconciliation with awful family members is rage-inducing for you, this one will push all of your detonation buttons.

The most frustrating thing is that there's so much potential here. In the first few chapters I got promising chest pangs of angst. I genuinely wonder how much editing support Devon got this go around; she really needed someone helping her pull the threads together and ground the story. So as much as the execution of this book failed, I'm not writing off future books completely. I know she has it in her! But this one isn't it.